What is the purpose of the shims-tsx.d.ts file within a Vue project using Typescript?

Question

What is the purpose of the shims-tsx.d.ts file within a Vue project using Typescript?

When starting a Vue project with typescript, you will notice that there are two declaration files included: shims-vue.d.ts and shims.tsx.d.ts.

//shims-vue.d.ts

declare module "*.vue" {
  import Vue from 'vue';
  export default Vue;
}

Additionally:

//shims-tsx.d.ts

import Vue, { VNode } from 'vue';

declare global {
  namespace JSX {
    // tslint:disable no-empty-interface
    interface Element extends VNode {}
    // tslint:disable no-empty-interface
    interface ElementClass extends Vue {}
    interface IntrinsicElements {
      [elem: string]: any;
    }
  }
}

Interestingly, when I was working on a small project without using the Vue CLI, I forgot to include the second file (shims.tsx.d.ts) and surprisingly, my project compiled and ran smoothly without any errors.

I came across this discussion on the topic: https://github.com/vuejs/vue-cli/issues/1198, but I am still seeking more clarification.

I am curious about the purpose of this file and why it is included by default. Essentially, what consequences would I face if I choose not to include this declaration file?

Your insights are appreciated!

typescript vue.js

Answer 1

Answer №1

I came across this helpful resource that provided a clear explanation on Typescript modules and Webpack.

If you are working solely with Typescript without utilizing Webpack, importing something like import Foo from "./Foo.vue"; would result in an error since Typescript does not recognize Vue files as valid modules.

However, when setting up a Vue project, you'll notice that this process happens seamlessly - thanks to Webpack! It bundles all the import files together into one consolidated file.

Webpack is also enhanced with "loaders" which can handle specific file formats. For instance, configuring it with a CSS loader allows for automatic bundling of CSS files along with the insertion of relevant JavaScript code into the DOM at runtime.

In the case of *.vue files, there's likely a dedicated loader within Webpack to facilitate their bundling. Hence, importing Foo from "./Foo.vue" works smoothly. But why do we need the shim file?

Typescript remains unaware of Webpack, leading to errors when attempting to import Foo.vue. This is where shims-vue.d.ts comes in. While the filename may not be critical, ending it with

.d.ts</code is essential. Typescript searches for such files within the directory.</p>
<p>The content of <code>shims-vue.d.ts

typically includes:

declare module "*.vue" {
  import Vue from 'vue';
  export default Vue;
}

This essentially instructs Typescript to treat any module imported with the name *.vue as if it contains Vue components. When importing Foo from "./Foo.vue", the type of Foo will be inferred as Vue.

Edit: Interestingly, this setup seems to work when importing the component in another .vue file. However, if imported from a .ts file, it only acts as an alias for Vue, causing inconvenience particularly during tests. Additional discussion can be found in this related question.

Answer 2

I came across this helpful resource that provided a clear explanation on Typescript modules and Webpack.

If you are working solely with Typescript without utilizing Webpack, importing something like import Foo from "./Foo.vue"; would result in an error since Typescript does not recognize Vue files as valid modules.

However, when setting up a Vue project, you'll notice that this process happens seamlessly - thanks to Webpack! It bundles all the import files together into one consolidated file.

Webpack is also enhanced with "loaders" which can handle specific file formats. For instance, configuring it with a CSS loader allows for automatic bundling of CSS files along with the insertion of relevant JavaScript code into the DOM at runtime.

In the case of *.vue files, there's likely a dedicated loader within Webpack to facilitate their bundling. Hence, importing Foo from "./Foo.vue" works smoothly. But why do we need the shim file?

Typescript remains unaware of Webpack, leading to errors when attempting to import Foo.vue. This is where shims-vue.d.ts comes in. While the filename may not be critical, ending it with

.d.ts</code is essential. Typescript searches for such files within the directory.</p>
<p>The content of <code>shims-vue.d.ts

typically includes:

declare module "*.vue" {
  import Vue from 'vue';
  export default Vue;
}

This essentially instructs Typescript to treat any module imported with the name *.vue as if it contains Vue components. When importing Foo from "./Foo.vue", the type of Foo will be inferred as Vue.

Edit: Interestingly, this setup seems to work when importing the component in another .vue file. However, if imported from a .ts file, it only acts as an alias for Vue, causing inconvenience particularly during tests. Additional discussion can be found in this related question.

Answer 3

Answer №2

By including the first file, your IDE gains comprehension of the purpose of a file with the extension .vue.

Incorporating the second file grants you the ability to work with .tsx files and enables support for jsx syntax in your IDE, allowing you to write TypeScript code in JSX format.

Answer 4

By including the first file, your IDE gains comprehension of the purpose of a file with the extension .vue.

Incorporating the second file grants you the ability to work with .tsx files and enables support for jsx syntax in your IDE, allowing you to write TypeScript code in JSX format.

Answer 5

Answer №3

For TypeScript to properly interpret your intentions, it is essential that your tsconfig.json configuration file includes the shims.d.ts file in its set of rules. This way, TypeScript will be able to recognize and understand the contents of the shims.d.ts file.

Answer 6

For TypeScript to properly interpret your intentions, it is essential that your tsconfig.json configuration file includes the shims.d.ts file in its set of rules. This way, TypeScript will be able to recognize and understand the contents of the shims.d.ts file.

What is the purpose of the shims-tsx.d.ts file within a Vue project using Typescript?

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

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